Self-oiling pulley



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- F. H. SPEAR.

SELF OILING PULLEY.

No. 605,980.. Patented June 21,1898.

& m

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. H. SPEAR.

SELF OILING PULLEY. No. 605,980. Patented JuneQl, 1898.

- I do declare the following to be a full, clear,

- nations thereof hereinafter set forth and NITED STATES mar;

'ATENT SELF-OILING PULLEY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 605,980, dated June 21, 1898.

Application filed July 14:, 1897. Serial No. 644,591- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRED H. SPEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burlington, in the county of Ohittenden, State of Vermont, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Oiling Pulleys; and

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to self-oiling pulleys, meaning thereby pulleys that require to be charged with oil only at long intervals of time.

My invention has for its object to effect a thorough circulation of the oil carried in the chamber of the pulley in such manner as to constantly and freely lubricate all the wearing-surfaces of the device. This results in greatly lessening the friction, wear, and resistance to rotation offered by the pulley.

In carrying my invention into effect I avail myself of the principle of centrifugal force by constructing the oil-carrying chamber of the pulley so that one portion of it is farther from the axis of rotation than the other portion, with the result that the oil tends to collect in the first-mentioned portion with a greater pressure than in the portion of the chamber which is not so far from said axis. WVith the first-mentioned portion of the oilchamber communicates a duct or ducts formed in the stationary portion of the pulley and leading thence to the surfaces to be lubricated and finally back to the oil-chamber at that portion of the same which is nearer the axis of rotation.

It results from the above-described construction and arrangement of parts that the oil-pressure in the first-mentioned portion of the oil-chamber causes the oil to enter the said ducts, while at their delivery end the ducts are relieved of pressure and induced to deliver their oil into the chamber ofthe pul-" ley, said pressure and exhausting tendency at the entrance and delivery ends of the ducts resulting in the above-mentioned desirable circulation of the lubricating fluid.

Such being the general nature of the invention, it consists in the parts and combiclaimed.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect without limiting my improvements in their useful applications to the particular construction which, for the sake of illustration, I have delineated.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a pulley embodying my invention shown as mounted upon a portion of a shaft, the said section being taken on line I, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view 011 line II, Fig. 1. Fig. dis a transverse sectional view, the outer portion of the pulley being broken away, taken upon line III, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is an end view of the head or covering-plate of the pulley-hub.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a portion of a shaft, 'on which is mounted a bushing A, fixed in place upon the shaft, so as to be stationary therewith, by means of a set-screw M or other suitable device.

2 is the pulley, comprising a rib or flange L, a radial web K, and a hollowhub 0, adapted to fit and have a rotary bearing upon the bushing A and interiorly shaped to form an annular oil-chamber D, one portion of which chamberthe right-hand portion in Fig. 1is of-somewhat greater radius than the other (left-hand) portion. I do not restrict my invention to any particular shape of the interior of the chamber to produce the above-mentioned result, but find the construction illustrated to be practical and convenient, in which the outer wall of the pulley-hub is frusto-conical in contour, the interior of the annular oil-chamber tapering or flaring outwardly, (from left to right in Fig. 1.) I

B is a disk or flange formed upon one end of the bushing A and adapted to be inclosedwithin the hub of the pulley at that end of the same which is of larger diameter.

-T- indicates one or more oiling grooves or ducts formed in the periphery of the bushing A and running longitudinally thereof. The

oil in these ducts is in direct communication with the interior bearing-surface of the hub O and is freely delivered thereto for, the purpose of lubrication. At the smaller side "of the hub is a circular groove J, extending around the bushing and communicating with the ends of the grooves T. This circular groove may be formed in either one of the contiguous parts A C or preferably, as shown, partly in each of said parts. From the groove J oildistributing holes 1-1 lead to the smaller end of the oil-chamber D. With the other ends of the grooves T communicate ducts G, which lead from said grooves through the bushing and radially outward through the disk B, opening from the periphery of the latter into the larger portion of the oil-chamber. The

outer portion of the disk B is shaped to fit tightly within the oil-chamber, while its inner portion is beveled, as indicated at 2', to-give a clearance for the ends of the ducts G.

\Vhen the pulley is in operation, properly charged with oil, the course of the latter is, for the reasons already described, from the larger end of the oil-chamber into and through the ducts G, thence through the grooves T, through which the oil is distributed, to the pulley-bearing, thence into the groove J, and thence through the holes H into the smaller end of the oil-chamber, from which it circulates again to the larger end. This course of the oil is indicated in-Fig. 1 by the arrows.

At one side of the bushing A is formed a shoulder a, which is engaged by a correspondin g shoulder S on the pulley-hub to prevent longitudinal movement of the pulley uponth'e bushing in one direction.

E is a ring engaging the outer face of the i disk B and covering the ends of the horizontal portions of the ducts G, which are bored directly inward from the outer face of the disk.

F is a cap inclosing the oil-chamber and the parts above described at one end of the hub and secured in place by screws N. The cap F fits around a portion of the bushing A and fits closely against the ring E, thus holding the pulley from any longitudinal movement to the left hand, Fig. 1. and between the cap F and disk 13 is left an annular chamber 0, which serves as the original filling and oil-distributing space. From this space holes P, Fig. 2, communicate with the oil-chamber D. The periphery of the ring E is dished, as shown at e, to throw the oil inward to the holes 1?.

Visa fillingaperture provided with a screw cap W and formed in the outer face of the cap F. The oil-chamber must not be filled above the inner diameter of the cap F, and

the filling-aperture V is placed in such posi- 1 tion and direction (see Fig. 4) that the proper amount of oil will not be exceeded.

That portion of the ducts G which is formed in the disk B is preferably at an angleto a true radial line, as seen in Fig. 2, and I also.

prefer to form two of such inwardly-extending duet portions inclined in opposite directions and communicating with the same horizontal duct portion, as also shown in said figure. The entrance of the oil intothe ducts is thus promoted, whichever be the direction of the rotation of the pulley.

Around the ring E i A pulley constructed according to my invention will not drip when standing still or throw oil when in motion, as is the case with ordinary loose pulleys. It will run for months after having been filled without any attention. It is simple and easy of construction and can be made of any width or diameter desired. It is impossible for any dust or foreign matter to enter the oil-chamber or bearings and the latter. are absolutely dustproof. or wear upon the running-surfaces. The use of this pulley prevents the saturation of pulley-belts with oil, and their consequent rotting and damage to goods from oil thrown by the pulley is entirely avoided.

I claim 1. A self-oiling pulley, comprising a hub having therein an oil-chamber of greater diameter at one end than at the other, and having a bearing-surface, and a separate bushing or sleeve within said surface and adapted to be fixed on a shaft or support, one of said parts having a longitudinal duct along said bearing-surface, and said parts having at the inner portion of the smaller end of the chamber a communication with one end of said duct and at the outer portion of the larger end of the chamber a communication with the other end of said duct.

2. In a self-oiling pulley, the combination with a bushing having a disk formed with i11- wardly-extending ducts leading from its p'e riphery, and transverse ducts or grooves leading longitudinally across its bearing-face, of 1 a pulley having a hub fitting on said bushing, an oil-chamber of larger diameter at one 1 end than at the other inclosing said disk at ,its larger end, the smaller end of said cha1n- {her communicating with the rear ends of the said ducts in the bushing, substantially as set iforth.

3. In a self-oiling pulley, the combination ;of a bushing having the disk 13 and formed ;with the ducts G, the grooves T, and the aninular groove J, the pulley fitting on said bushing and having the oil-chamber D of greater diameter at one end, than at the iother, and formed with the openings H by which said chamber communicates at its Ismaller end with said groove J, and an inclosing cap engaging the bushing and secured ito the hub of the pulley, substantially as set iforth.

1 4. .The combination with the pulley-having 5the oil-chamber D, of the bushing having the disk 13, inclined ducts G formed in the disk, transverse grooves leading from the inner ends of said ducts across the hub and bush- 1 ing between theirbearing-surfaces,and means iwhereby the rear ends of said grooves communicate with the smaller end of the oilchamber D, substantially as set forth.

5. In a self-oiling pulley, the combination of the bushing having the disk B formed on its outer face with the chamber 0, ducts formed in the bushing and extending from the outer portion of the disk inwardly and and having the filling-aperture, substantially across the bushing and communicating with as set forth. to the rear end of the oil-chamber, the ring E In testimony whereof I affiX my signature situated at the outer side of the disk and in the presence of two Witnesses.

serving to cover the ends of the ducts, holes FRED H. SPEAR. G formed in the disk and leading from the WVitnesses: chamber 0 to the chamber D and an inclos- E1) SNOW,

ing cap F secured to the hub of the pulley LAURA PRICE. 

